Racing arena and photographing apparatus



May 16, R. A. @SWALD 2 348 841 RACING ARENA AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1941 I5 Sheets-Sheet l whom/m W 9 1944 A. @swALD RACING ARENA AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3; 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 SwuWo p R9120? flnJr-ew Oswald fifty/wan May 16 1944'. v R W L zfi fifi n RACING ARENA AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS N 1 14) a n i om A j Robert flndrew dill/did Patented May 16, 1944 1mm Andrew Oswald, San Mateo, can, assignor of one-half to Ross Foreman, San Mateo County, Calif.

Application September 3, 1941, Serial No. 409,437

2 Claims. (CI. 88-16) This invention contemplates the provision of means whereby a photographer may travel along a racing strip in close proximity to the horses during a horse race, so as to take moving pictures of the entire race which will clearly show 5 the winner, whether fouls have been committed, and the position of every horse during the entire race. Provision is made whereby the pictures can be developed as they are taken, so that shortly after the race is over the pictures will be available, showing every detail ofthe race, whereby the judges may be able to review the race and ascertain the actual winner.

In carrying out the present invention, I provide a track for a photographer's car parallel with and adjacent the racing strip, and a photographer's car is provided for travel along this track, which car carries a motion picture camera movably mounted so that it can be kept focused on the horses during the race. Means are provided whereby the photographer may accurately direct the camera while the pictures are being taken and may control the operation of such camera from the car. Also, provision is made for delivering the picture film to developing and other necessary tanks in the car as the pictures are taken, so that the film is processed while the car is in motion and, by the time the race is over, the fllm has been processed and is ready to be viewed by the judges of the race.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a racing arena and photographing apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of the photographer's car shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the motion picture camera and its mounting means.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, partly in elevation looking toward the left of Figure 3 and partly broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 64 of Figure 5. t

Figure 7 is a view taken transversely through the car track of Figure 1 and showing a'means for guiding the photographers car along such track; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view somewhat simi- 55 lar to Figure '7, illustrating the manner of deriving current from a third rail for operation of an. electric motor when such electric motor is used to propel the photographer's car.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates an ordinary continuous horse racing strip, along y the inner side of which is erected the usual fence 6 enclosing an infield I. In accordance with the present invention, a track 8, for a photographers car 9, is provided along and adjacent. the racing strip 5 parallel with the latter and preferably inwardly of fence 6 within infield I as shown. While the track 8 may consist of an ordinary roadway for a land vehicle, it preferably consists of a railway track including spaced rails I0 upon which the wheels ll of the car 9 are adapted to run. By providing a railway track, smooth running of the photographer's car without undue jolts or vibration is insured. While the car 9 would have steering apparatus if the track 8 were a mere roadway, such steering apparatus can be eliminated when a railway track is used, means being provided on the car 9 to cooperate with the rails ill for guiding the car 9 along the track. As shown in Figure 7, such g'uiding means may consist of flanged wheels l2 arranged to engage the balls of the rails l0 and journaled on vertical axes at the lower ends of mounts i3 fixed to and depending from an axle It or the car 9. Also, the car 9 may be driven by an ordinary power plant including an internal combustion engine, as practiced in connection with automobiles. However, if the "car is provided with an electric motor for propelling the same, current for the operation of such electric motor may be derived from a third rail l5 carried by the web of one rail in and insulated from the latter as at it in Figure 8. To take power from the third rail I 5, the guide wheel mount l3 may be provided below the guide wheel I! with a support I! carrying a collector shoe it from which leads a conductor I9 adapted to extend to the electric motor used to propel the car. Such motor may have one side groundedto the frame of the car so that the rail I0 will act as a ground for the motor circuit as is generally common in electric railway construction.

Suitably mounted upon the body of car 9 and rising a considerable height above the same is a hollow vertical mast or column 20, said mast or column being capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis and having a motion picture camera 2| fixed upon the top or upper end thereof. The mounting means for column 20 may consist of a centrally apertured base plate 22 in the in the proper liirectir sight 3% is pro'vi aperture of which is rotatably fitted the reduced the several tanks within car 9 so that the film portion 23 of a base member 24 provided on said is processed while the car is in motion. The column 20. This base member may have a process is a continuous one, so that by the time flange 25 resting on the base plate 22 about its the rac which 15 being Photo ap ed, is over, central aperture or opening, and another flange 6 the film has been processed. As the car moves member 25 may be fastened to the bottom of on a track parallel to a racing strip, a field of the base member 24 to engage the under side of horses can be followed and accurate moving picthe base plate 22 about its central opening. In tures can be taken of the entire race. Shortly this way, the column is retained in an upright after the race is over, the moving pictures will position although free to rotate about its vertibe available so that they ma be viewed by the cal or longitudinal axis. Judges for ascertaining every detail of the race The motion picture camera 2| is of a generally and permitting the oflicial order or finish. t be well known type having a motor for causing justly named or decided upon. The modification travel or the film therein and means for conrequired relative to existing racing strips, and trolling the operation or such motor. Such conthe photograph r' r nee ed for use in connectrolling means may be operated from a remote tion therewith may be readily supplied at a reapoint within the body of the car 9 through the sonable cost, and the invention will supply a medium oi an extension operating means incrying needinthe interest of bette: management eluding a rod 21 extending from the camera or horse racing, downwardly through the column to a point so WhatIclaim as new is: near the bottom of the l or win-ire it is or The combination with photographers car adapted to will upon a track; and having a mojecting at one sid tcrmperated motion picture camera mounted in body of the car.

a g handle it an. elevated. position thereon and s, ntrollable the camera as from a point within the car whereby motion rerlt Arrpictures oi an entire race may be taken while lower end the car is in motion traveling along the racing e column about strip in proximity to. the racers, the mounting means for said camera consisting of an upright hollow column mounted on the body of the car and having the camera mounted on the top thereof, said column being rotatable about its longitudinal axis to facilitate directing oi the camera toward the subjects being photographed, and means operable by a person statedv within the car for directing and controlling the operation a lllembel of said camera, said last named means compris- 3 i prv will 3m in 11119 ing lateral handles on the lower end of said colwith another angnl used nurrc'lr 'lhe one of aid, handles being axially rotatable, arrangement is anal that lie subjects being phol0 and a d gxtending through th column and tographed Will be Iltlflfifi'blll from mirror all 'fIOIll operatjvely cgnnect d at its uppe and to m 8 line parallel with the aim 8f the clli'nfil'llr, and {my starting and stopping device at the camera, will then be received in the mirror M ill) be clearand at its lower end to said rotatable handle, W 56811 by the p t ap th ough the view-- 2. The combination of an endless hors racing 8 member 0. By the use of this Perisc p strip, and a track located parallel with and adaccurate viewing and aiming of the camera is jagent, aid racing strip, with a photosraphers insured so as to take care or changing ms i car adapted to run upon said track and having du t ph t ap ns of a race. a motion picture camera mounted in an elevated he Column 20 i5 illfieriflfly divided as at 34 position thereon and controllable from a point into a P s e 35 do y through Whiflh is m within the car whereby motion pictures of an passed the film 36 from the camera 21. This is entire race may be taken while th car 15 in done i a o Winding the posed film upon 1 tion traveling along the racing strip in proxreel within the camera, and this film passes from imlty t t racers, th tm means f aid the lower end of column 20 successively throu camera consisting of an upright hollow column develop n re ers n fixing and drying tanks mounted onthe body of the car and having the 39 and the st three 01 which are camera mounted on the top thereof, said column Il may be started a other handle 29 oi? column 20 for net its longitudinal axis camera toward the Also embodicrfl whereby the photo! view the subject's era toward that M in line with of ti, and a horiaontl located in a dark c a ber t n t e y of being rotatable about its longitudinal axis to iathe car A suitably perated reel 4| is procilitate directing of the camera toward the subvided to finally have the developed or processed jgcts being photographed, means operable by a fi Wound thereon- AS Shown n Figure the person seated within the car for directing and connection of the rod 21 with handle 28 may controlling the operation of said camera, procconsist of a crank 42 fixed on the inner end of 6531118 means for t motion pictur film within a shaft rigid with and extending axially 0m the body of the car, and means for delivering the one end or handle 28 and journaled in a bearexposed 111 from th m a, downwardly ins 4 P ojec te a y from the column 5 through said column to said processing means. It will be seen that the film is exposed and ROBERT ANDREW QSWALD,

then travels down through the column 20 into 

